Downvalley

Eagle Valley Rod and Gun Club Board of Directors congratulate Eagle Valley High School junior Katie Stephens, author of the winning essay for the club's $600 scholarship. The topic was the Second Amendment and how action by the current Colorado Legislature could affect the right to bear arms. Katie's essay dealt with the issue of concealed weapon permit legislation. Shown, front row, left to right, are Dick Mayne, Katie Stephens, Dave Hammond and Bill Baker. In the back row are Tom Henderson, Kip Herrington, Matt Bailey and Esgar Acosta.

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The Eagle Valley Library District is excited to continue the Books in Bloom author event in 2012, changing it from a series to a one-day event.

Tickets are available now for the Saturday, June 30, event with authors Erin Blakemore ("The Heroine's Bookshelf"), Jennifer Haigh ("Mrs. Kimble," "Baker Towers," "The Condition" and "Faith"), and Tatjana Soli "The Lotus Eaters").

The event will be held at The Pines Lodge in Beaver Creek from 2 to 5:30 p.m. Each author will discuss her work individually. The event will include appetizers, a cash bar, books available for purchase courtesy of The Bookworm of Edwards, and a book signing at the conclusion of the author presentations.

For more information on Books in Bloom, call the Avon Public Library at (970) 949-6797.

The $64 entry fee for Gypsum's first Dirty Dozen adventure race is reduced to $49 for people who register before July 1.

The 5K race is July 14 and involves 12 muddy, military-style obstacles, similar to Beaver Creek's Tough Mudder race. The cost of registration includes a T-shirt, a ticket for one beer and admission to the Collin Raye concert at Lundgren Theater.

The Dirty Dozen "mud endurance games" will be from 8 to 11:30 a.m. and is for all ages. Children under 12 are $25.

As the race runs its course, music gets started and food and craft vendors will be on site. A beer garden is planned from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and "family mud games" will entertain everyone from 2:30 to 3 p.m. at the Lundgren Theater Park.

Admission to the all-day entertainment is $15 for people 13 and older. Children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult.

Music-wise, the local band Already Gone plays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Another local band, Derringer, plays from noon to 2:30 p.m. White Water Ramble, a Denver band, plays from 3 to 5 p.m. A talent show is from 6 to 8:30 p.m., and then Collin Raye takes the stage.

To get more information about vendors and sponsorships, contact Gypsum Special Projects Coordinator Marie Sanders at (970) 524-1740.

To register as a racer or learn more about the event, contact the Gypsum Recreation Center at (970) 777-8888 or visit the Western Eagle County Metropolitan Recreation District's website at www.wecmrd.org.

Gypsum's popular free music and a movie series - The People's Friday - continues June 22 with a showing of "Judy Moody Bummer Summer" and music by Jayme Stone Folk Band.

The People's Friday shows include kids crafts and activities in addition to music and movies. The fun gets under way at 7 p.m. and the movie begins at dusk. For more details, visit www.townofgypsum.com.

• The Eagle Chamber of Commerce June Business after Hours Mixer is planned tonight, June 21, from 5 to 7 p.m. at American National Bank. Stop by for food, libations and conversation.

• Kelsey Elwood has graduated with a bachelor's degree in Environmental Science magna cum laude from Colorado College. Elwood is the daughter of Hille and James Elwood of Eagle. The college awarded 525 undergraduate degrees and five master of arts in teaching degrees at its 130th commencement ceremony, held on May 21 outdoors on Armstrong Quad. Colorado College is a nationally prominent, four-year liberal arts college that was founded in Colorado Springs in 1874.